Review - LDV G10 People-Mover & Commercial Van

Better still, LDV also offers the G10 in a commercial van configuration, throwing out the seats and interior niceties in favour of a large, open body that aims to snatch away buyers from the establishment’s rivals like the Toyota HiAce, Hyundai iLoad and the Ford Transit. 

The major question remaining, though, is that considering LDV is far from a household name, what - if any - sacrifices are you forced to make in order to grab yourself a bargain in the LDV 10, and just how well does it stack up against its competitors? It’s a car platform that wears a number of hats, billed as both a people mover and a commercial cargo van, but how well does LDV’s platform adapt to the needs of both families and demands of the commercial sector? Let’s find out.  

Starting Price: $32,621

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LDV G10 - DIESEL (7 SEAT MPV) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check LDV G10 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cheapest prices available for the G10 lineup come in the form of the cargo-ready, commercial van variants.The LDV lineup kicks off from $32,621 for the G10 Van with a petrol engine and manual gearbox, with prices rising to $33,147 for an automatic variant. Prices then move to $34,726 for the diesel variant paired with an automatic box. From here, the range moves to the G10+ variant, which is priced at $34,726, with the G10+ automatic diesel variant topping the range at $36,305. 

In terms of people-mover variants, the G10 seven-seat diesel with an automatic transmission is priced at $35,490, while the nine-seat version costs $38,490. Moving to the Executive variant of the seven-seat people mover raises the price to $38,490, while the nine-seat variant is priced at $40,490. 

Prices listed here are subject to change, however they do include on-road costs, with more savings available to those looking to purchase a G10 with an ABN. 

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What Features Does the LDV G10 Have?

LDV’s entry-level G10 Van comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloy wheels, and receives a pair of dual sliding doors, powered windows, cruise control, air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel, central locking, a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth support, as well as a full-sized spare tyre. 

Moving to the People Mover variant adds a dual-zone climate control system, six-speaker sound system and a leather upholstery finish for the interior, atop the list of features listed above. 

Moving to the Executive variant adds a set of adaptive Xenon headlights, fog lights, automatic wipers, keyless entry and start, front parking sensors, an automatic boot lift, three panoramic sunroofs, dual powered sliding side doors, a surround-view camera, rear-seat entertainment and an upgraded 10.0-inch infotainment system. 

Range Features: 

• 16-inch alloy wheels

• Cruise control

• Dual sliding doors 

• Air conditioning 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth 

• Power windows 

• Adjustable steering wheel 

• Full-sized spare tyre 

• Leather upholstery (People Mover) 

• Dual-zone climate control (People Mover) 

• Six-speaker sound system (People Mover) 

• Keyless entry & start (Executive) 

• Surround-view camera (Executive) 

• Dual powered sliding doors (Executive) 

• Hands-free boot lift (Executive) 

• Three sunroofs (Executive) 

• Adaptive Xenon headlights with fog lights (Executive) 

• Front parking sensors (Executive) 

• Rear seat entertainment package (Executive) 

LDV G10 Colours

Is the G10 People Mover Comfortable to Drive? 

One of the most immediate concerns buyers have with large people movers is just how easily they can be driven on a daily commute. Often, the large wheelbase and clumsy turning circles can prove difficult to navigate city streets and tight car parks. In this regard, we’re pleased to report that while the G10 People Mover is large enough to comfortably carry nine people, it remains a user-friendly and comfortable van to drive in all the situations you’ll find on a daily commute. 

The G10 people mover is offered with a choice of a turbo-diesel paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, or a turbo-petrol unit that is offered with a six-speed automatic in the base model, and ten-speed automatic in the G10+ variant. If you’re planning on moving your family in either the seven or nine-seat people mover, we’d encourage you to look closely at the turbo-petrol engine which offers significantly more power than the diesel. The turbo-petrol unit adds some encouragement while accelerating off the line, and gives you access to more power when you need it for picking up speed and effortless highway cruising. 

If you’re in the business of moving cargo, moving toward the turbo-diesel unit might be your best option. This powertrain is even more smooth that its petrol counterpart, and while it lacks the overall power of the petrol unit, it exceeds in terms of torque. Power is put to the road via a silky-smooth eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, which makes the G10 an exceptionally smooth and easy car to pilot around town. 

While it might be large, the G10 people mover remains user-friendly and accessible for drivers that are new to the platform, combined with a lightweight steering rack that makes low-speed turns a simple task, and relatively compact turning circle for navigating tight spaces in car parks and in traffic. Perhaps more importantly, the G10 has been fitted with a comfortable suspension platform that is able to soak up small bumps and irregularities around town, although it can become a bit more unsettled with aggressive cornering and on some large bumps that commonly feature on Australian roads. 

All up, though, as a complete package, the G10 people mover is surprisingly capable as a comfortable daily driver, and acts to significantly close the gap to its major competitors. While it might lack the overall comfort and refinement you’d find in something like a Kia Carnival, considering its attractive drive-away prices, the G10 offers an extremely solid value for money proposition for those looking for an affordable and comfortable people-mover. 

Is the G10 People Mover Spacious For the Family? 

The G10 People Mover’s platform is extremely large, and features a choice of seven and nine-seat platforms to accommodate growing Australian families. Up front, the G10’s cabin is relatively straightforward, but offers a huge amount of visibility and space in the front of the cabin. With no less than three sunroofs on offer, the cabin benefits massively from that added light and sense of space throughout the cabin. The driver and front passenger receive a set of arm rests, as well as the usual set of storage in the door bins, and in the central tunnel to accommodate the loose items that families accumulate. 

Moving to the rear of the G10’s cabin, you’ll find three rows of seats that are able to slide back and forward, recline and fold down for added cabin flexibility. The seats are slightly more narrow than a typical seat, but remain extremely comfortable for longer journeys, and offer a massive amount of headroom. Tall adults might struggle to get comfortable on longer trips in the rear of the cabin, however, for the majority of passengers, the G10’s rear cabin is a wonderful place for the family to sit. The rear-most seats in the nine-seat people mover feature a large central bench that are comfortable to sit on, although they lack the legroom for adult passengers to stretch out on longer journeys. 

All up, though, the clever and flexible packaging design of the G10’s cabin translate to genuine real-world practicality, and is a genuine performer when it comes to accommodating your family in comfort. 

Is the G10 Van a Practical Work Horse? 

Using the same platform as its people-mover sibling, the G10 van provides a large amount of cargo space for those in need of transporting large, bulky goods for work. All up, it measures in at 5,168mm long, 1,980mm wide, 1,928mm tall and rides on a wheelbase of 3,198mm. This translates to a cargo bay storage area that measures in at 2,500mm long, 1,590mm wide and 1,270mm tall, and translates to a total cargo volume of 5,200L, or 5.2 cubic meters. 

Access to the rear cargo bay is available through either of the sliding rear doors, or the rear lift tailgate that offers protection from the weather when loading and unloading cargo into the rear. The cargo bay receives six tie-down points and a heavy-duty floor covering that stretches halfway up the sides to ensure your cargo doesn’t scratch the van itself. In terms of payload capacity, the G10 Van is rated at 1,010kg for the diesel automatic variant, 1,030kg for the diesel manual variant and 1,093kg for the turbo-petrol unit. Finally, braked and unbraked towing capacity is rated at 1,500kg and 750kg respectively, meaning that the G10 van can tow some pretty hefty objects. 

Is it Safe? 

Both the G10 Van and People Mover variants have been awarded three-star ANCAP safety ratings when they were tested back in 2015, scoring 9.37 out of 16 for front impacts, 16 out of 16 for side impacts and achieving overall scores of 24.49 out of 37. 

Standard safety equipment for the G10 range includes a rear-view camera and parking sensors in the base model, while higher-spec variants receive a surround-view camera with front-mounted parking sensors, as well as two airbags for the front of the cabin. This means that while the G10 range comes generously equipped when it comes to a number of creature comfort and entertainment features, safety equipment is sadly lacking, particularly when you consider there are no airbags for the rear of the cabin in the seven and nine-seat variants. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With a choice of three engines in the G10 lineup, fuel economy depends largely on which variant you opt for. The entry-level G10 Van’s diesel unit paired with a manual gearbox returns a combined cycle figure of 8.3L per 100km, while this rises to 8.6L per 100km in the automatic variant. Opting for the diesel-powered people mover results in a combined cycle figure of 8.7L per 100km, while the turbo-petrol Van and People Mover variants return fuel economy figures of 11.7L per 100km. 

Our Verdict: Is the LDV G10 Van and People Mover Worth it?

The LDV G10 Van and People Mover range are exceptionally attractive value for money propositions in the people-mover and commercial van segment. On the whole, they offer an impressively comfortable and capable platform for families and commercial activities alike, however, these don’t come without their drawbacks. 

While the G10 Van and People Mover look extremely attractive on paper, there are a number of areas where the vehicle falls short when compared to its direct competitors. These relate mostly to the lack of active safety equipment, short warranty terms and the less than stellar fuel economy figures. While, admittedly, these are relatively small areas in isolation, it means that as you spend more time inside the LDV G10, its competitors begin to look more appealing on paper. 

Regardless, though, with so much value on offer in a comfortable and capable platform, we believe the LDV G10 is well-worth a spot on your shortlist for both commercial needs and family-moving potential. On that note,  if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year, 100,00km warranty 

2. Three-star ANCAP safety rating 

3. Seven and nine-seat People Mover variants available 

4. Cargo volume of 5,200L (5.2 cubic meters) in G10 Van

5. Best fuel economy of 8.3L per 100km in diesel; 11.7L per 100km in petrol variant 

Pros 

• Genuine workhorse potential in G10 van 

• Acres of space and comfort for the family in G10 People Mover 

• Generous equipment list adds to value proposition 

Cons

• Limited warranty terms with no capped price servicing available 

• Three-star ANCAP safety rating

• Two airbags up front; none in the rear

• Unimpressive fuel economy 

OnlineAuto Rating: 6/10

LDV G10 Competition